Corset.



A. MALS!N.

CORSET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1916.

Fatented July 16, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

2 tu F A TTOR/VEV Rs cu., .unam-Uma., wAsHmamN. cV c:

A. MALSIN.

CORSET,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- wearing apparel s'rnns ALBERT MALSIN, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNOR TO LANE BRYANT, INC., OF NEW YORK, N'. Y., A

CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

CORSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1c, 191s.

Application filed June 9, 1916. Serial No. 102,625.

To all whom t may concern:

.Be it known that I, ALBERT MALsIN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in corset lacmg means. One of the objects among many which may be mentioned is that of enabling the lacing of a corset or other article of to be tightened or loosened readily and easily throughout its entire length so that the action thereof may be uniform and equal at every point without the need of having any knots. The invention consists essentially Vin having on the corset a pull device, as a tab, strap, or its equivalent, which is provided with a hooking or fastening means whereby the lacing may be tightened up or may be slackencd at various points in its length, and along with said means is to be included a peculiar method of passing the lacing through the holes or eyelets in the corset so as to enable the tightening or loosening of the lacing to be effected as desired; and the invention furthermore comprises numerous details and peculiarities in the construction, karrangement and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a corset with my present improved tightening and loosening devices applied operatively to the lace thereof;

Fig. 9. is a cross-section on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a por tion of the corset, its lace, and one of the pull devices arranged in connection with said lace to adjust the same.

Fig. 4: is a similar detail view showing the pull devices applied on each side of the corset and to the opposite parts of the lacing.

Fig. 5 is a similar detail elevationalview, with adjusting devices the same as in Fig. 4, but showing the loops of the lacing crossed from one side of the corset to the other so that the drawing eiiect is somewhat diiferent from that in Fig. l, being stronger and adapted to a thinner person.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a corset which has a front lacing operating over a gap between the edges of the corset, the lacing being adjustable by means of the same nstrap devices shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of a corset with a modiiied form of hook device for the straps that enables the lace to be adjustedat a plurality of points and held in position.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8, Sof Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail line 9, 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one of the hooks employed with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 11 is a mo'diiied form of said hook the same consisting of a snap fastener instead of the curved lip.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail elevation .if a portion of a corset and its lacing similar to that shown in Figs 7 and 8. but indicating the elongated loops of the lace crossed over from side to side and attached to the corset by means of suitable fasteners like those in Figs. 10 and 11, engaging eyelets in the corset.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

My present improvements relate particularly to corsets and other garments employing lacing as means of adjusting them to different sizes. Corsets now in use are genvertcal section on the erally provided with lacings which serve two y purposes: first, as a means of adjustment to enable the corset to fit the figure at all points; and second, to enable the corset to adjust itself automatically, inasmuch as the size of the various parts of the figure changes according to the position of the wearer, and consequently it is extremely difficult to substitute anything for lacings as a means for making such adjustment. For example, if the corset is fitted when the wearer is standing it will be found that in sitting the hips will be larger and also that similar changes will occur when a corseted figure bends forward or backward or sways to the right or to the left. The lacings automatically take care of these changes of position and size, for if the user is seated the lacings about the hips will automatically open up or expand,

at the same time tightening the upper part from which they must necessarily get the additional lengthy required, and so on vice versa. Hence, it is essential that lacings should be employed in corsets in connection with the gap between the two opposing edges which are usually at-the back but sometimes at the front or sides, for if it were not for these lacings or something equivalent thereto the wearer would be unable to bend in position. My invention aims to enable these laces to be quickly and easily released and adjusted by tightening or loosening.

The lace ordinarily is threaded crosswise. So far as itis concerned my invention uses the customary lacing, as 2, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,

and 5, except that it is'anendless lace, which passes through eyelets 3 in the sides -1 of the corset, although there are certain dierences in my method of looping the lacing at cer-V tain points. In the old and wellknown methods the laces simply run crosswise and pass through the eyelets, butusually at a couple of places, one toward the top and one toward the bottom, they are left somewhat loose or so that the wearer can ltake hold of them and in order to keep the laces in said position it is customary to tie them in a knot at these points. Should the wearer desire to tighten the corset this is done by pulling upon the corset strings at these points, but in doing thisthe user merely tightens the strings to the extent of two or three sections above and below so that the operation is a troublesome one and besides thisr there are objectionable knots and hanging strings which make additional and unnecessary bulkiness and which it is desirable to obviate. While retaining a lace, therefore, I employ other means of tightening or loosening so as to eliminate' the use of objectionable strings, knots, and other clumsy attachments Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen that the sections l, 1 of the corset are provided with holes or eyelets 3, through which passesthe lacing 2. At certain points on one side 1 the lacing 2, which is preferably an endless lace, instead of turning directly back from the eyelet 8 across to the next eyelet in thesame section l, is passed into the next eyelet in the same section, thus forming a loop 4; and similarly on the other side 1 the lacing instead of passing directly back to the opposite side is first carried into the next adjoining eyelet on the same sectionv 1 and vforms a loo-p 5, but this loop is elongated andI pulled across so as to coincide with the loop 4, which two loops are engaged by a strap 6 that is stitched hori- Zontally or otherwise secured to one of the sectionsy 1, and which has an end 8 provided with a snap hook or fastener 9, adapted to engage an eyelet 7 carried by thepart-of-the strap 6 which is secu-red to the corsetsection l. This` strap as is indicated in Fig.' 3

passes through the loops 4 and 5 and by being pulled can be made to draw tightly upon said loops 4 and 5 and'thus tighten up'the lacing 2, and when` suiciently tight the fastener 9 can be caused to engage any one of the eyelets 7, and thus the lacing be held in its tightened position. Ordinarily I will provide one of the pull straps 6' every little distance'in: the length of the corset, Vsay every half dozen or so of the threadings or windings of the lacing, the whole length of the corset having', say, five or six Yof lthese straps' which can be manually adj usted with'v a great deal vof ease, requiring-no reaching-around to the middle of the'back' but operated con.- veniently from thel side and making it possi-V ble to adjust the .lacing at all points in its length so that the tightening orr loosening effect is quickly distributed and theV lacing under complete control and adjustment at all times. It will lbe observed that the. strap 6 may partake off a great varietyof Vdifferent forms, for it may be a rather stiff device,for may be apiece ofleather or of some other material having greater or less flexibility, but it will be strong and will have the requisite drawing power'and will be able 4to exert ank effective'pulling `action upon loops 4 and 5 engaged thereby; As the double thickness of the strap 6, when thev folded section-8 and thefastener,I devices 7 and 9 are also considered, will be enough to'mak'e a substantial thickness and bulkiness. I find it desirable to use 'a covering ,stripY l0l secured vertically to the corsetatl one .or both sides, and either stitched. thereto' or otherwise fastened, so that it will be held in placev and allowed to cover more or less of the strap devicesas well as the ends of the loops Vengaged thereby.

Obviouslyl the straps fmay be used with one or both sections 1 of the corset and may engage the loop or loops 4 alone, or both the loops 4'andf5. In l `ig. 4 I sli-'ow one of vthe section-s lprovidedwith vthe straps 6 having the folded ends 8,. and 1theotherfsection 1 provided with strap` 6a having` the folded end 8iL carrying fasteners-Qa-'that engagel eyelets 7a, and'the strap -6V engages the loop 4 on* one side, that fis teI say, contiguous to one section 1, while' the strappa-engages a similar loop 4a contiguous to the 'other sec-- tion 1, it being obvious in `th-is `case that the loopings of the lace 2 are not elongated so as to'passfover to theother-side of thecorset in the form of aloop 5, In Fig; 5,'however,

the invention is so modified; aste provide` for the employment of 'two elongated JEloops 5 and 5a which originate onl one side of the corset section'l-` and pass over to'- the other side where they are engaged respectively by the bent ends 8 and-8a of-the straps 6y and 6a, the strap V6 having its end 8;passing around the' loop A5 andthe strap; 6a having its end 8F passingaround theloop "5t: 'Ihfese are simply modifications@showingdifferent' nation set forth in Figs. 1, 2, and 8.

Aapplications of the same principle of the invention and illustrating its broader application. In these forms shown in Figs. L1 and 5 I utilize the same covering strips 10 on both sides of the corset. The plan in Fig. 5 takes up a great deal more of slack in the lace 2 than does the plan in Fig. 1, and is a method of lacing that can be used when a person becomes thinner. Thus with the two plans the same corset serves the person whether iieshy or thin, without requiring any cutting of the lace.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a view of a corset having a front lacing as well as a front clasp, the latter being designated 11. The sections 1 of the corset meet at the gap 12 and an endless lacing 2 passes through the eyelets 3, and at intervals there are the looped portions e, and the elongated loops 5 stretching across from the other edge of the corset, said pairs of loops 1 and 5 being engaged by straps 6 at intervals and the whole arrangement being the same with the attendant result as indicated in the combi- In this Fig. 6 the construction may have the covering strips 10, as in Fig. 1, if desired. In Fig. 7 the corset consists of the sections 1, 1 connected by a lace 13 which passes through the eyelets 111, and on one side of the gap which is bridged by the lacing are pairs of loops 15 and 16, 15 being a shorter loop and 16 a longer loop, the latter passing over from the other edge. Each pair of loops 15 and 16 is provided with a catch or hook.

adapted to engage the body of the corset. One of these catch devices is shown in Fig. 10, another in Fig. 11. The device 19 has a loop 2O at one end through whichthe lac-- ings 15 and 16 pass, while at the other end is a hook 21 which is adapted to engage eyelets 18 of which there is a series let into the body of the corset, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, there being on the inside of the corset opposite to these holes a covering strip 17 which prevents the hooks from annoying the wearer of the corset. |Ihe details of the arrangement of the eyelets and the covering piece 17 are clearly indicated in Figs. 8 and 9. The hook 21 is simply a bent over end of the device 19 and has only a shape and curvature suiiicient to enable it to catch on easily and securely hold within one or the other of the eyelets. Although sometimes the hook 21 is a preferable form of a catch device, yet there are other cases in which it is found preferable to provide a snap button 22 in place thereof, and a device having such a snap is shown in Fig. 11 where the button 22 is seen in engagement with one of the eyelets 18, said eyelet being properly shaped to receive it. It may be evident that the hook or catch device or any other equivalent or suitable fastener may be used with any of the forms of the invention which I have shown in the different figures of the drawing with equal facility as with the particular form shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated a further modification of the invention where the corset sections 1,1 are connected by a lace 18 passing through holes 111 in the body of the corset and I have shown two elongated loops 16 and 16a which cross each other, passing over from one side of the corset opening to the other side thereof, and said lengthened loops carrying catch devices 19 which engages eyelets 18 in the body of the corset. This merely shows the adaptability of the invention to different forms of fasteners for the loops whereby the lacing is tightened and loosened and illustrates the value of the invention in its widest application, especially in those cases where the long loops permit the taking up of more slack in the case of thinner persons, as when a person loses ilesh and still the same corset can be worn.

Many changes may be made in the details of the invention without exceeding the scope of the claims. I have broadly laid claim to the combination with a corset or garment lace of devices employed at intervals in the length of said lace for adjusting the lacing so as to tighten the same in the desired manner from a point easy of access at one or both sides of the corset.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Iletters Patent, is:

1. In a corset, the combination with the body of the same, of a lace threaded through openings and left loose at one or more points, and a strap attached to the body and passing through said slack portion and having a fastening means that enables it to be held adjustably in position after taking up the slack.

2. In a corset, the combination with the body of the same having eyelets therein, and a lace threaded through said eyelets from side to side, but left loose at one or more points, of strap devices on the body engaging the slack portions of the lace, said strap devices having free ends provided with fastenings that enable them to be turned back and secured to the body of the corset in different positions.

3. In a corset, the combination with the body of the same having rows of openings near the adjoining edges, and a lace threaded through said openings from one edge to the other, and at certain points passing through adjoining openings on the same edge so as to leave loops, and pieces of fabric fastened to the body and passing through said loops and provided with fasteners for holding the ends thereof in any desired position after the slack has been taken up.

4. In a corset, the combination with the eyeleted body of the same, of an endless lace threaded through it and havingslack points, and straps attached to the body of the corset'and passing through said slack points and having fastenings that enable the straps to be held in different positions after taking up a greater o-r less amount of slack at said points.

5. In a corset, the combination with the eyeleted body of an endless lace threaded through the same and looped at points, said loops arranged opposite each other, and a seriesvo-f straps or tabs attached to the body and engaging pairs of loops, said straps having their free ends provided with fastening devices which connect With different points on the body so as to enable a greater or less amount of slack in the loops to be taken up.

(i. In a corset, the combination With a lace, of a series of side tabs or straps attached to the corset and engaging the lace for the purpose of manipulating the same at a'plurality of points, said straps having their free ends which pass through the loose portions of the lace provided with fastening devices adapted to connect with the body at various points for the purpose of enabling more or less slack to be taken up.

7. The combination with a corset lace havinoloops at intervals, of a series of lateral strips engaging the loops with a pulling action and having free ends provided Wit-h fastening devices whereby the lace can be ti ghiened or loo-sened at a series of points, said fastening. devices engaging` the main body of the corset at different points.

S. In a corset, an endless lace, in combination With the corset body having openings through Which it is threaded, certain portions of the lacing' being looped in such a manner that they may have a fullness, and a series of strips secured to the body of the corset and passing through the said loops so as to exert a pulling effect thereon, the

ends of said strips having fastening` devices which hold the ends of the strips in any desired position after the'slack has been taken up by passing thestripsthrough the loops and exerting a pulling effect thereon.

9. In acorset, an endless lace threaded through openings in the corset body 'across the gap between the edges of said body and having' certain portions thereof furnishing loops, and means engagingsaid loops and adj ustably connected to the body of the corset at differentpoints so as to enable the lace to be tightened or loosened as desired, said means consisting of strapsattached to the body of the corset with free ends pro vided With fastening devices arranged with the straps passing through loops and theny fastened to the body of the corset at dif` ferent points so as to take up the slack.

l0. In a corset, the combination Voffan end` less lace threaded through openings in the corset body across the'gap between the edges of said corset, and having certain sections passing through adjoining openings on the saine corset edge before crossing the gap so as to provide loops, and meansconsisting` of strips attached to the body of the corset and having free ends engaging said loops. and provided with fastening devices Wherebythe loops may be tightened or loosened in order to adjust the corset.

1l. In a corset, an endless lace in combination with a corset body having eyelets through which the lace passes, said lace having loosely looped portions at different points in its length, and straps securely fastened to the corset body and having free ends passing through said'loops so aste be used to eXert a pulling effect on the loops when grasped by the hand and thus adjust the lace, and fastening means on the free ends of the straps for holding. the ends of the straps lin the position to Which they v:may be adjusted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALBERT MALSIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained `for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner yof Patents,y v Washington, D. C. 

